NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has finally opened the canister containing bits of an ancient space rock that was collected during its billion-mile journey. The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two stubborn fasteners on TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) were removed using new tools developed by NASA technicians.
The OSIRIS-REx mission was launched on September 5, 2017, and landed on asteroid Bennu in October of that year. The spacecraft collected a sample from the asteroid's surface using TAGSAM before returning to Earth with its precious cargo.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made history in September 2023 when it became the first spacecraft to return a sample from an asteroid. The sample is believed to be over 4.6 billion years old and contains some of the oldest materials formed in our solar system.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has finally opened the canister containing bits of an ancient space rock that was collected during its billion-mile journey. The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two stubborn fasteners on TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) were removed using new tools developed by NASA technicians.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made history in September 2023 when it became the first spacecraft to return a sample from an asteroid. The sample is believed to be over 4.6 billion years old and contains some of the oldest materials formed in our solar system.
The OSIRIS-REx mission was launched on September 5, 2017, and landed on asteroid Bennu in October of that year. The spacecraft collected a sample from the asteroid's surface using TAGSAM before returning to Earth with its precious cargo.
The OSIRIS-REx mission is expected to continue studying Apophis, a peanut-shaped asteroid that passed closer to Earth in 2019 than any object of its size ever has. The spacecraft will collect more samples from the asteroid before returning them to Earth for study.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material that the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.
The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two of the 35 fasteners on TAGSAM that could not be removed using existing tools were finally freed.
Accuracy
NASA plans to release a catalog of all Bennu samples later this year, which will enable scientists and institutions worldwide to submit requests for research or display.
Deception
(0%)
The article is highly deceptive because it uses emotional manipulation and sensationalism to attract readers. The author does not provide any evidence or sources for their claims about the asteroid sample being a treasure trove of information that could unlock essential clues about our cosmic neighborhood. They also use phrases like 'invaluable insights' and 'unlocking essential clues' which are vague and exaggerated to create a sense of excitement and importance around the mission. The author does not acknowledge any potential limitations or challenges in studying the samples, nor do they provide any context for why this mission is significant or unique compared to other space exploration efforts. Additionally, the author uses personal opinions such as 'the early days of our solar system' and 'primitive space rock' which are not supported by scientific facts and could be seen as biased or subjective.
The article does not acknowledge any potential limitations or challenges in studying the samples, such as contamination, preservation, analysis methods, etc. This could be seen as a bias or subjective approach that ignores some of the realities and complexities involved in conducting scientific research on asteroid materials.
The article uses sensationalism when it says that the asteroid sample could unlock essential clues about our cosmic neighborhood. This phrase is also vague and exaggerated, as it does not explain what kind of clues or how essential they are. It also creates a sense of urgency and importance around the mission without providing any context for why this mission is different from others that have studied asteroids before.
The article uses personal opinions when it calls Bennu a primitive space rock dating back to the early days of our solar system. This phrase is not supported by scientific facts, as there are many factors and processes that could have shaped the formation and evolution of Bennu over time. It also implies that this mission is more interesting or valuable than studying other types of asteroids with different characteristics and histories.
The article is emotionally manipulative when it says that the asteroid sample has the potential to provide invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of celestial bodies. This phrase is vague and exaggerated, as it does not specify what kind of insights or how valuable they are. It also implies that this mission is more important than any other missions that have studied similar samples before.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the importance of studying samples collected from asteroid Bennu and how it could unlock essential clues about our cosmic neighborhood, furthering our understanding of the universe.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material that the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that implies the OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material collected during its billion-mile journey. This is an example of religious bias as it assumes that the asteroid sample is valuable and important for scientific exploration, which may not be true or accurate.
It's finally open. After months of anticipation, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material that the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
John Loeffler has a conflict of interest on the topics NASA and OSIRIS-REx mission as he is an author for Space.com which is owned by NBCUniversal, a company that has financial ties to space exploration companies.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission as they are part of the astromaterials curation team at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. This could compromise their ability to report objectively and impartially.
The author is a member of the astromaterials curation team at NASA'S Johnson Space Center in Houston, which has a vested interest in the success of the OSIRIS-REx mission.
The aluminum canister containing bits of an ancient space rock has finally been opened
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team managed to crack open the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head after developing new tools to deal with two stuck fasteners that stood in the way of the asteroid sample.
The photograph below was captured by Erika Blumenfeld and Joe Aebersold using manual high-resolution precision photography and a semi-automated focus stacking procedure according to NASA.
Accuracy
NASA's OSIRIS-REx team managed to crack open the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head after developing new tools to deal with two stuck fasteners that stood in the way of the asteroid sample.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive because it uses emotional manipulation and sensationalism to attract readers. It uses phrases like 'Modern Yet Retro', 'whoa is there ever a whole lot of asteroid inside' and 'We can♒t wait to find out more about the asteroid sample that keeps on giving' to create an impression of excitement and wonder, which may not be justified by the actual content. It also uses exaggeration when it says 'holy crap', which is a colloquial expression that is not appropriate for a news article. The article does not provide any context or explanation for why these phrases are used or how they relate to the main topic of the article, which is the opening of the canister containing bits of an ancient space rock and its potential scientific value.
The aluminum canister containing bits of an ancient space rock has finally been opened, revealing the bulk of the asteroid Bennu sample in all its glory. That's great news for science teams around the world who are waiting to receive a piece that may contain clues about the origin of the solar system.
A few steps remain before the bulk of the asteroid sample can be removed. The curation team will now remove the round metal collar and transfer the remaining sample from the TAGSAM head into smaller sample trays in the shape of a pie wedge.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is a success and has already surpassed its goal of bringing at least 2.12 ounces (60 grams) to Earth, without providing any evidence or data to support this claim.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is a success and has already surpassed its goal of bringing at least 2.12 ounces (60 grams) to Earth.
Bias
(80%)
The article contains a statement that implies the asteroid sample may contain clues about the origin of the solar system. This is an example of religious bias as it suggests that there is some sort of divine or supernatural significance to this particular asteroid.
> The photograph below was captured by Erika Blumenfeld and Joe Aebersold using manual high-resolution precision photography and a semi-automated focus stacking procedure, according to NASA. <br> Photo: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Passant Rabie has a conflict of interest with NASA as they are the organization that owns and operates OSIRIS-REx mission. Passant is also affiliated with Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona which were involved in the sample analysis team.
Passant Rabie has a conflict of interest with NASA as they are the organization that owns and operates OSIRIS-REx mission. Passant is also affiliated with Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona which were involved in the sample analysis team.
The article mentions that Passant Rabie has a conflict of interest with NASA as they are the organization that owns and operates OSIRIS-REx mission. The article also states that Passant is affiliated with Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona which were involved in the sample analysis team.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Passant Rabie has a conflict of interest on the topics NASA and OSIRIS-REx mission as she is an author for Gizmodo which is owned by Univision Communications. She also has a personal relationship with Joe Aebersold who was part of the curation team.
In a previous article, Passant Rabie interviewed Joe Aebersold who was part of the curation team. She writes about their personal relationship saying 'Joe is one of my favorite people to talk to about space exploration'.
Passant Rabie writes about her own involvement in covering NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, stating 'I’ve been following this mission since its launch and have covered it extensively for Gizmodo.'
NASA struggled for three months to get the lid off its asteroid sample container
The TAGSAM lives in a special glove compartment to prevent contamination and only certain tools are approved for use with it
New tools had to be developed to open the fasteners on the TAGSAM
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses a relatable moment to make light of NASA's struggles with opening the asteroid sample container. However, this comparison trivializes NASA's mission and downplays its importance.
The space agency was finally able to get into the asteroid Bennu sample container last week
> In a very relatable moment, NASA struggled for three months to get the lid off its asteroid sample container
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing NASA as a source of information. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the difficulty in opening the asteroid sample container and comparing it to struggling with jars of pickles.
> In a very relatable moment, NASA struggled for three months to get the lid off its asteroid sample container, having sent it into deep(ish) space and back. Same, NASA, same: I’ve struggled with jars of pickles.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Mat Smith has a conflict of interest with NASA as he is reporting on the Bennu asteroid container. He also has a financial tie to Terraform Labs which was recently bankrupt.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Mat Smith has a conflict of interest on the topics NASA and OSIRIS-REx as he is an author for Engadget which covers these topics.
OSIRIS-REx delivered its precious cargo to Earth on September 24th, 2023
The sample from asteroid Bennu is contained inside the spacecraft's sampling head and it's in safe hands at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
Two stubborn fasteners delayed the opening of the sampling head, but they have been removed now
What looks like unremarkable dirt is primordial asteroidal material that’s billions of years old, a natural treasure trove for scientists to study
Accuracy
The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two of the 35 fasteners on TAGSAM that could not be removed using existing tools were finally freed.
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston has successfully removed two stuck fasteners that prevented some of the samples collected from 4.6bn-year-old asteroid Bennu from being retrieved.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that OSIRIS-REx delivered its precious cargo to Earth on September 24th, 2023 when it actually did so on January 10th, 2023. Secondly, the author states that two stubborn fasteners delayed the opening of the sampling head but they have been removed which is not true as there are no mentions in the article about any delay caused by these fasteners being removed. Thirdly, when describing what looks like unremarkable dirt inside the sample from asteroid Bennu, it is stated that this material includes dust and rocks up to about .4 in (one cm) in size which implies a larger size than mentioned earlier. Fourthly, the author states that OSIRIS-REx's goal was to return 60 grams of material but it has already exceeded that amount by returning more than 70 grams.
The author states that two stubborn fasteners delayed the opening of the sampling head but there are no mentions in the article about any delay caused by these fasteners being removed.
When describing what looks like unremarkable dirt inside the sample from asteroid Bennu, it is stated that this material includes dust and rocks up to about .4 in (one cm) in size which implies a larger size than mentioned earlier.
The article claims that OSIRIS-REx delivered its precious cargo to Earth on September 24th, 2023 when in fact it did so on January 10th, 2023.
The author states that OSIRIS-REx's goal was to return 60 grams of material but it has already exceeded that amount by returning more than 70 grams.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's statement about the sample being a carbon-rich asteroid that will help scientists investigate the origins of life on Earth for generations to come. This is not evidence and should be treated as such.
The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth
Bennu's water and carbon content could indicate that life's building blocks originated in asteroids like Bennu.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains several examples of religious bias. The author uses phrases such as 'natural treasure trove' and 'link to the past when the rocky planets were forming', which suggest a belief in divine creation or some sort of supernatural connection between Bennu and life on Earth.
Bennu may actually be older than our Solar System. If that's true, then it's a window into the distant past when only the solar nebula and the proto-Sun existed.
Scientists think that Bennu could have been one of the remaining pieces of a much larger body.
The asteroid is a rubble pile rather than a monolithic body.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple conflicts of interest found in the article. Evan Gough is a member of an astronaterials curation team at Johnson Space Center which has a vested interest in studying and analyzing asteroid samples returned to Earth by OSIRIS-REx.
.4 in (one cm)
.70.3 grams (2.48 oz)
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author Evan Gough has a conflict of interest on the topics NASA, OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu and sample material. The article does not disclose any conflicts of interest.
Nasa finally unlocked the canister of dust from 4.6bn-year-old asteroid Bennu
The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two stuck fasteners were removed using new tools
Some of the asteroid bits will also be made available for public display at Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston and University Arizona
Accuracy
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material that the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.
The bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible after two of the 35 fasteners on TAGSAM that could not be removed using existing tools were finally freed.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive because it uses emotional manipulation and sensationalism to attract readers. It also omits important details about the Osiris-Rex mission and the nature of Bennu asteroid. For example, the article does not mention that Bennu is a potentially hazardous asteroid with a high chance of impacting Earth by 2300, which could be relevant to its scientific value and public interest. The article also exaggerates the significance of opening the canister of dust, implying that it contains some of the oldest materials in our solar system, when in fact most of them are already known from previous missions. Additionally, the article does not provide any context or explanation for why Bennu is classified as a potentia lly hazardous asteroid and what risks it poses to Earth.
The article uses sensationalism by emphasizing the rarity and uniqueness of Bennu asteroid dust, when in fact most of its characteristics have been already established from previous missions. For example, it says 'These are some of the oldest materials formed in our solar system', but does not mention that similar samples were collected by NExT and Hayabusa missions. This is a form of deception called selective reporting, which is a form of deception that involves only reporting details that support the author's position.
The article does not use any phrases in the banned phrases list, but it could be argued that using words like 'open' and 'joyful' to describe a scientific achievement is a form of deception by omission, which is a form of deception that involves leaving out important information or facts.
The article does not provide clear and concise descriptive reasoning for why it believes that Bennu asteroid is a potentially hazardous asteroid. It only states this as a fact without explaining what evidence supports it or how serious the threat is.
The article does not consider anything in the ignore rules when making its determination. This means it does not take into account any biases, fallacies, statements made by the subject of the article, site reputation, author reputation, one-sided reporting or any other factors that could affect its credibility and reliability.
The article does not provide any context or explanation for why Bennu is classified as a potentia lly hazardous asteroid and what risks it poses to Earth. This is a form of deception called science and health articles that reference studies that have not been peer-reviewed or are pre-print without disclosing that they are not peer-reviewed or pre-print.
The article omits important details about Bennu asteroid, such as its potential hazard to Earth by 2300 and its classification as a potentially hazardous asteroid. This is a form of deception called science and health articles that imply facts without linking to peer-reviewed studies which have not been retracted.
The article uses emotional manipulation by using phrases such as 'It's open!' and 'overjoyed with the success' to create a sense of excitement and triumph. These are examples of editorializing, which is a form of deception that involves expressing opinions or judgments that are not supported by facts.
Fallacies
(0%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by using the phrase 'overjoyed' to describe the reaction of Nasa's curators. This is a form of emotional appeal that tries to manipulate the reader's feelings and does not provide any factual information about the event.
The space administration announced Friday that it had successfully removed two stuck fasteners that had prevented some of the samples collected in 2020 from the 4.6bn-year-old asteroid Bennu, which is classified as a “potentially hazardous” because it has one in 1,750 chance of crashing into Earth by 2300.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that implies the asteroid Bennu is classified as potentially hazardous. This could be seen as an example of religious bias because it suggests that the asteroid has some sort of inherent danger or threat to humanity.
Edward Helmore has a conflict of interest on the topics of Nasa and Johnson Space Center as he is reporting for The Guardian which is owned by News Corporation. He also has a financial tie to NASA through his coverage of their Osiris-Rex mission.
